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The Art and Science of Homeopathy
Jane Tara Cicchetti, RS Hom,(NA), CCH
What
makes homeopathy different than other forms of natural healing? The key is in the
name. It is derived from the Greek word homoios, meaning
like. Homeopathy is based on the
principle of like cures like , also known as the law of similars, which means
it works by using a little bit of something that can cause the problem to cure
it. For example, if you peel
an onion your eyes become very teary.
A homeopathic preparation of red onion, Allium Cepa, is used for colds
or allergies where the sufferer has teary eyes.
The art of homeopathy is the ability to apply the
law of similars to find the correct remedy. If the law of similars is applied
accurately the remedies act swiftly and thoroughly, if not, nothing happens and
one has done no harm. It is this
process of matching symptoms that makes a treatment homeopathic, not the
remedies per se.
Although
the principle of the law of similars has been known for several thousand years,
homeopathy, in its present form was discovered 200 years ago by a German physician, Samuel
Hahnemann. He found that by using
specially prepared remedies made from very dilute amounts of herbs, minerals or
animal extracts he could utilize the healing power of the law of similars
safely and effectively with no side effects. He carefully documented 200 remedies- writing down exactly
what each remedy was able to cause and cure. Today we have almost 2000 homeopathic remedies, each as
carefully studied as Hahnemann's original ones.
Every
homeopathic remedy must be tested or proven before it is allowed to become part
of the homeopathic pharmacy. This proving of homeopathic remedies, was and still
is conducted on people, not animals.
It is done in a very specific way so that those testing the remedies
improve rather than harm their health.
In the United States, homeopathic remedies are regulated by the FDA, in
conjunction with a committee representing the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the
United States.
Now widely recognized
as a safe and effective alternative to conventional medicines, homeopathy is in
general use throughout the world. It is used in France and Germany and is the
treatment of choice of the royal family of England. Used and endorsed by Mahatma Ghandi, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens,
Wolfgang Goethe, Pope Pius X and even Mary Baker Eddy, founder of
Christian Science , this unique form of medicine was widely practiced in the
United States up until the early
part of the twentieth century. In
l900 there were 22 homeopathic medical schools and over 100 homeopathic
hospitals across the country.
After the turn of the century,
homeopathy fell out of favor in the United States due to pressures from the
AMA, the discovery of sulfa drugs, and the changes in consciousness after the
industrial revolution. These
changes lead to thinking about the body as a machine made up of unrelated
parts. Because of this we are experiencing chronic diseases that are not
responding to antibiotics, homeopathy, with its consideration of the individual
as a whole is coming back into favor in this country.
Homeopathy offers treatment
for acute infectious disease as well as chronic disease, emotional disorders
and injuries. Excellent for children and infants as well as adults, it works by
stimulating the body and mind to heal naturally. It does not kill germs, but allows our own defense mechanisms
to strengthen the body so that it can throw off the infection. This natural healing system can
be learned for self-treatment of colds, flu, injuries, and other acute problems
by taking a class in acute homeopathy.
Most people who study homeopathy find it fascinating as well as very
effective and useful.
The
best way to receive homeopathic treatment for chronic disease or for prevention
is to see a well-trained practitioner of homeopathy. He or she will give an intensive interview lasting
about two hours before deciding on the remedy that is just right for the
individual. This remedy, which is
sometimes known as the constitutional remedy, stimulates healing on the level
of mind, body and emotions.
People
often ask what kinds of chronic problems and diseases can be helped with
homeopathy. It is important to
remember that homeopathy treats people not diseases. One person with a particular disease, say arthritis, may be
easily helped with homeopathy, another may not have such positive effects or be
very difficult to treat. This has
to do with many factors unique to the individual such as the amount of
allopathic drugs she is taking, family health history and her ability to
perceive and report her symptoms to the homeopath. An understanding of
homeopathy and what information the practitioner needs to find the correct
remedy may improve the results.
As
you can see, homeopathy is a complex art and science. The more you know about it, the more it can help you. There are many good books available to
assist you in your understanding of this healing art. Two that I suggest for beginners are: Discovering Homeopathy: Medicine for
the 21st
Century
by Dana Ullman and Homeopathic
Medicine at Home by Maesimund B. Panos and Jane Heimlich. The Science of Homeopathy by
George Vithoulkas is a good book for in depth study of the laws and principles
of homeopathy.
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